Orifice fitting device



Sept. 14, 1954 J- w. WHALEN 2,638,987 ORIFICE FITTING DEVICE Filed July 30, 1951 4 Sheeis-Sheet l INVENTOR. JO/f/A/ w. (Uh 9L5 E921. Fe By Sept. 14, 1954 J. w. WHALEN 2,688,987

ORIFICE FITTING DEVICE Filed July 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 O 25 d :28 I5 22 y I I0 nunnu II 11/11 IIIIIIIIII I N P m v. 5 ,m v Ha Ifllllllllllll INVENTOR. Ha. JOHN 6U. (Of/4Z5 P 14, 1954 J. w. WHALEN ORIFICE FITTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 30, 1951 INVENTOR. (JOHN 44 60/ 746 17 may Patented Sept. 14, 1954 ORIFICE FITTING DEVICE John W. Whalen, Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Daniel Orifice Fitting Company, Los Angeles, Caliit, a corporation of California Application July 30, 1951, Serial No. 239,367

bypass valves as used in conventional orifice flange installations.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved form of orifice plate valve assembly of this type which is particularly adapted for, but not limited to, installations of relatively large size.

Another object is to provide a device of this type which is rugged and reliable in design and operation and which enables the orifice plate 7 Claims. (Cl. 138-44) and carrier to be moved to and from operative position with a minimum of effort in order encourage frequent inspection.

A more detailed object is to provide improved means for withdrawing the orifice plate carrier from operative position.

Another object is to provide an externally accessible adjustable brake mechanism so that the rate of travel of the plate carrier may be carefully controlled, and avoiding any impact blows and possible damage to valve member separating lower and upper chambers of the orifice device.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front elevation partly broken away and partly 'in section showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away taken in the direction 3-3 as shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View partly broken away taken substantially on the line 4- as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 4 and showing the plate carrier stop in operative position.

Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional plan view 2 taken substantially on the line 66 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a portion of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale and showing details of one of the stuffing box assemblies.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end elevation taken in the direction 88 as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section showing details of a wrench employed in connection with the device embodying my invention.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the wrench.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 4 but showing the horizontal slide valve in closed position.

Referring to the drawings, the stationary body it] is provided with integrally formed support feet II and is formed with a central axial bore i2. The ends of the body may be provided with the usual flanges if desired for connection to aligned pipes (not shown), or the body may be provided with lips l3 for connection to such pipes by welding. The chamber housing [4 is connected to the body It! by means of threaded fastenings l5, and a pair of plate carrier guide brackets it are secured to the upper end of the chamber housing by means of suitable threaded fastenings [1. The housing [4 may be provided with stiffening flanges or ribs 9 of any suitable or desirable configuration.

A plate carrier i8 is adapted to be received within a transverse slot l9 provided in the body it], and an orifice plate 20 having a central opening 2E1 is mounted on the carrier 18. rier i8 is provided with rack teeth 2| along parallel vertical edges, and these rack teeth are engaged by spur pinions 22 fixed on the shaft 23. Similar spur pinions 24 and 25 are fixed on shafts 2'5 and 2% respectively. Shaft 26 ex tends through th chamber 21 within the housing M, while shaft 2% extends between the brackets I6. The shafts 23, 26 and 21 may be turned in sequence, as described more fully I hereinafter, to raise the plate carrier [8 and its orifice plate 20 from the operative position shown in Figure 2 upwardly through the chamber 21 and into the inspection position shown in Figure 5.

As shown clearly in Figure 4, the body 10 is provided with walls forming a cavity l I which communicates with the slot I9. The spur pinions 22 on the shaft 23 are positioned within this cavity. The horizontally slidable valve member 28 is also mounted within this cavity II and is arranged to slide horizontally on rails 29 fixed The car- 3 at each end of the cavity. The rails 29 are held in position by suitable threaded attachment fittings 2% (see Figure '7) A stationary valve seat member at is positioned within the cavity I l and has a sealing face 3| on its lower surface. This stationary seat member 38 is fixed to the housing it by means of suitable threaded fastener elements 32. A gasket 33 prevents leakage between 3 the seatee and the housing It; A movable valve E i is guided for vertical sliding movement on the 3 valve member 28 and a plurality of springs 35 are provided for moving the valve 34 upwardly into contact with the lower surface of sealing face 3|. Parallel horizontal racks 36 are provided on the valve member 28, and these racks mesh with gears 31 fixed on the valve shaft 38.

. A limit stop 39 is fixed on the stationary valve seat 353, and this stop is engagedby the valve 1 member 28 when it is moved to the left from the position shown in Figure 4.

During the normal operation of the device, that is, when the carrier 18 and orifice plate 2d are in the position shown in Figure 2, the valve member 28 is normally in contact with the stop 39, and in this position the moving valve 34 blocks off the central passage at in the stationary seat 3c. The line pressure normally existing within the cavity H supplements the action of the springs as in maintaining the valve 34 in tight sealing relationship with the surface 3|.

Means are provided for injecting lubricant such as grease between the seat 30 and valve 34, and as shown in the drawings this means includes a pressure applying fitting 4| threaded to the housing land communicating with a lubricant passage 42. The lubricant passage 42 extends through the gasket33 and through the seat 39 and communicates with a groove 43 which encompasses the central opening 40 in the seat ing the pressure within the chamber 21 and cavity l l, and as shown in the drawings this means includes a pressure equalizing valve assembly 46.

A passageway ll leads from the cavity II to the valve assembly 56, and another passageway 48 leads from the valve assembly 46 to the chamber 21. The valve assembly 46 includes a packing nut 59 which is externally threaded for mounting on the housing it. The stem 50 extends through the packing nut 49, and the inner end of the stem engages the ball 51 to hold it against the seat 52, thereby preventing flow through the assageway ll. Packing 53 is positioned to be compressed by the packing nut 49 to form a seal about the stemtt. When the stem 50 is turned by means of a wrench (not shown) the ball 5| is moved away from the seat 52 by pressure in the passageway ll. This pressure is communicated through passageway 43 to the chamber 21.

The upper end of the chamber 21 is normally sealed by means of a closure plate 54 having a:

continuous seal ring 55. The closure 54 is normally held in sealing position by means of two rows of set screws 56 which are threaded into 4 the upper portion of the housing M, and when in place the clamping plate is engaged by the lateral shoulders 59 on the housing it. Two rows of set screws 56 are employed instead of a single row in order to reduce bending stresses in the plate 51 and closure 5% and to apply compressive forces more nearly in a position directly over the continuous seal element as. When the horizontal sliding valve is to be opened the stem 50 of the equalizer valve ie is first turned so that pressure reaches the chamber 21' by way of the passageways ll and d3. With the pressure thus balanced across the valve plate 35, the valve member 28 may be moved to the open position shown in Figure 4 with a minimum of frictional resistance. The pressure is held by the sealing I element 55.

The valve actuating shaft 38 extends through opposed ends of the body Hi and is provided with squared ends for reception of a Wrench. As shown in Figure 8 an indicator plate 66 is fixed to each of the exposed ends of the shaft 38. This tends into an opening provided in the body l5.

Threads t6 connect the sleeve to the body Iii. A bushing 61' has aperipheral groove ts which is engaged by a set screw 65 carried on the sleeve t l.

A spring is encircling the shaft 23 bears against the bushing 61 at one end and against a metal washer and a series of packing rings H at the other end; The outer packing assembly 63 includes a metal washer and packing rings [2 which.

are compressed by a gland l3 and a follower nut M. The inner packing assembly 62 is capable of minimizing leakage outwardly along the shaft 23 so that the outer packing 12 may be replaced when necessary without shutting down the unit.

The shafts '26 and 75 are rotatably mounted inend flanges l6 and Ti fixed to the chamber housing My Threaded attachment fittings it are provided for securing the flanges 16 and H in position. Stuffing box assemblies J9 of the general type shown in Figure '7 are provided for opposed ends of the shaft 26 to prevent leakage at the point where the shaft extends through the fianges It and ii. The roller shaft 15 does not extend through the flanges l6 and H, but on the contrary is rotatably supported within such fianges. Rollers 80 are mounted on the shaft 15 for contacting the face of the carrier is on the side opposite the rack teeth 2 I.

The roller shafts 8i and 82 are rotatably I mounted on the blind flanges 83 and 8%. These flanges are fixed to the chamber housing M by means of threaded attachment fittings %5. Figure 6 shows the manner of rotatably supporting the roller shafts 8i and 82 within the end flange 84. Parallel bores 86 are provided with bearing sleeves 81 which rotatably support the shafts 8| and 82. The shaft rollers 88 and 89 are each provided with a set screw 91! which engages within a groove 9! provided in the roller shaft. The bearing supports for the ends of the shaft is are substantially identical to that shown in Figure 6 for shafts BI and 82.

Since the housing I4 is ordinarily formed as a relatively large size casting the chamber 21 may have walls which are not disposed in precisely parallel planes, but on the contrary may be slightly warped or distorted. The position of the shafts 26, 15, 8| and 82 are therefore made subject to shifting with respect to the housing I4. This is accomplished by providing clearance between the openings 92 in the end flanges 16, 11, 83 and 84 and the threaded fastening elements which secure the end flanges to the housing I4. At the time the shafts 26, 15, 8| and 82 are initially assembled at the factory they are shifted to the proper position so that they are effective to raise and lower the plate carrier I8 through the chamber 21 without dragging on the walls thereof. The end flanges are then fixed to the housing I4 by means of pairs of dowel pins 93 (see Figure 3).

When the plate carrier I8 is to be raised from the chamber 21 for inspection, maintenance, or replacement of the orifice plate 29, the valve member 28 is moved back to its sealing position, equalizer valve 46 closed, and the bleeder valve 94 is opened to bleed down the pressure within the chamber 21. The screws 56 are turned in a direction to release the pressure against the closure 54 so that it may be removed in an axial direction. The clamp plate 51 is likewise removed axially, and this clears the path for raising the plate carrier I 8. The spur pinions 24 engage the rack 2| so that turning of the shaft 26 moves the plate carrier I B upwardly between the rollers 88 and 99 on the roller shafts 8| and 82. The rack 2| engages the teeth of the spur pinions 25 so that when the shaft 21 is turned the plate carrier I8 is raised to the position shown in Figure 5. The rollers 95 on the roller shaft 95 engage the backside of the plate carrier I8 to maintain the spur pinions 25 in mesh with the rack 2|. When the lower end of the plate carrier I8 is raised above the surface 91 at the upper end of the housing I4 the plate carrier stop 98 is swung to a position shown in Figure 5 so that the plate carrier I8 is prevented from dropping back into the chamber 21. The plate carrier stop is connected to the housing I4 by means of a bushed pivot bolt 99. Guide ribs I99 form a channel for reception of the plate carrier I8 so that the latter is held in an upright position while the orifice plate 29 is inspected, installed or removed.

A brake device generally designated I9I may be provided for frictionally restraining the speed of rotation of the shaft 26 to limit the downward speed of travel of the plate carrier I8 when it is being reinserted into the chamber 21 and into the slot I9. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, this brake device IIII includes a nonrotary bracket I92 having an ear I93 fixed in position by means of the anchor bolt I94. The bracket I92 is provided with a split sleeve I95 which has a cylindrical bore which is provided with split friction bushing I96 to receive a portion of the shaft 26. A cap screw I91 is provided to clamp the halves of the split sleeve I95 into frictional engagement with the shaft 26. When the cap screw I91 is tightened the frictional resistance on the shaft is increased. The operator may tighten the cap screw I91 to a sufficient extent to prevent rotation of the shaft 26 when the weight of the plate carrier I8 is applied to the spur pinion 24 through the rack 2|. The operator may then apply a wrench to either of the squared ends of the shaft 26 to lower the plate carrier at the desired rate, thereby avoiding any impact blows and possible damage to parts in the event the relatively heavy plate carrier I8 and orifice plate 29 should drop by gravity.

For convenience I provide a special wrench I29 shown in Figures 9 and 10 which is provided with a first socket I2I for engaging the squared ends of the shafts 23, 38, 26 and 21? and a second socket I22 for reception of the heads of the cap screws 59. The handle I23 of the wrench has an axis which is parallel to the axis of the socket I 2 I. The axis of the socket I 22 is disposed at an angle to the axis of the first socket |2I in order that the socket I22 may be applied to the heads of the cap screws 55 without interference between any part of the wrench and the structure of the orifice fitting valve device. When the socket I22 is used for releasing the set screws 58 the boss I24 is used as a handle by the operator.

In operation of the device the plate carrier I8 and orifice plate 29 are normally in position within the slot I9 as shown in Figure 2. In this position the plate carrier rests on up-ended studs I25 which are welded in position. Vulcanized re silient sealing lips I26 are provided on the orifice plate 29, and these seal against the annular seal ing surfaces I2? provided on opposite sides of the slot I9. The meter flange taps I28 are provided on opposite sides of the slot I9 and on both sides of the orifice device for connection to pressure diiierential indicating manometers, gauges, or recording charts (not shown). When it is desired to remove the orifice plate 29 for inspection, maintenance or replacement the equalizing valve 46 is first actuated to pressurize the charm ber 21. The bleed valve 94 remains closed. When the pressure is equalized between the cavity I I and the chamber 21 the valve member 28 is moved to open position by applying the wrench I29 to the squared end of the valve operating shaft 39. Turning of the shaft 39 turns the gear 31 and moves the meshing rack 39 on member 28 to the right as viewed in Figure 4. The wrench I29 is then applied to the squared end of shaft 23. Turning of the shaft 23 causes the spur pinion 22 which meshes with the rack 2| to raise the plate carrier I8 and orifice plate 29 vertically through the cavity II and into the chamber 21. The brake I9I is adjusted to apply frictional resistance to the shaft 29. When the plate carrier I9 has been raised sufiiciently to bring the rack teeth 2| into engagement with the teeth on the spur pinion 24 the wrench I29 is transferred to the squared end of the shaft 25. The plate carrier I8 and orifice plate 29 do not fall by gravity during the timeinterval while the Wrench is being transferred because the brake I9I frictionally prevents rotation of the shaft 26.

When the plate carrier I8 and orifice'plate 29 are positioned wholly within the chamber 27 the shaft 38 is turned to close the horizontal sliding I carrier I8 until the rack teeth 2| mesh with the spur pinion 25 on the shaft 21*. The Wrench I29 is then transferred to the shaft 21 while the brake I9 I' prevents retrograde motion of the plate carrier 18. The shaft 21* is then turned to brin the plate carrier and orifice plate into view bethe orifice plate 20 has been inspected or replaced, the carrier [8 and orifice plate 20 are returned through the chamber 21 and cavity H into operative position within the slot l9. This is accomplished in several steps taken in the reverse order as described above. An abutment I29 (see Figure 4) is provided on the horizontally movable valve member 28, and the purpose of this abutment is to engage the plate carrier 18 in the event that it has not dropped to its operative position as shown in Figure 2. When the plate carrier it rests properly on the supporting studs [25 the abutment I29 clears the upper end of the plate carrier is so that the valve member 28 may be moved horizontally to sealing position.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of: a body having a flow passage extending therethrough, the body also having a transverse slot and a cavity, aplate carrier, an orifice plate mounted on the carrier and having a central opening for alignment with said flow passage, the carrier having rack teeth, gear means within the cavity engageable with therack teeth, a housing fixed to the body and having a central chamber, a shaft rotatably mounted on the housing and extending into the chamber, a gear on the shaft within the chamber adapted to mesh with the rack on the plate carrier, laterally shiftable valve means within the body cavity for sealing one end of said chamber, removable means forming a seal at the other end of said chamber, spaced brackets on the housing exteriorly of said chamber for guiding the plate carrier, gear means supported on the brackets and adapted to mesh with the rack on the plate carrier, the plate carrier being movable from operative position within the slot through the cavity and chamber to an inoperative position between said brackets, and brake means outside the chamber operatively associated with said shaft for frictionally retarding rotation of the shaft.

2. In an orifice fitting device of the class de- I scribed, the combination of 'a body having a fiow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice to receive side edges of the plate carrier, and

means for moving the plate carrier and orifice plate from operative position within the body 8 through the chamber and into position between said spaced guide members.

3. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of z a body having a fiow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice plate on the carrier having a central opening aligned with said body passage, a housing fixed to said body and having a chamber, laterally shiftable valve means forming a seal between the lower end of the chamber and the interior of said body, removable means at the other end of the chamber forming a seal, a pair of spaced brackets fixed to the housing adjacent said removable means, the brackets having grooves to receive side edges of the plate carrier, means for raising the'plate carrier and orifice plate from operative position within the body through the chamber and into position between said spaced brackets, and a stop element movably mounted on the housing for maintaining the plate carrier in raised position.

4. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of a body having a flow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice plate on the carrier having a central opening aligned with saidbody passage, a housing fixed to said body and having a chamber, laterally shiftable valve means forming a seal between one end of the chamber and the interior of said body, removable means at the other end of the chamber forming a seal, a pair of spaced guide members fixed to the housing adjacent said removable means, the guide members having grooves to receive side edges of the plate carrier, and means for moving the plate carrier and orifice plate from operative position within the body through the chamber and into position between said spaced guide members, said means including a rack on the plate carrier and a series of spaced pinion gears for sequentially meshing with said rack.

5. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of: a body having a flow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice plate on the carrier having a central opening aligned with said body passage, a housing fixed to said body and having a chamber, laterally shiftable valve means forming a seal between one end of the chamber and the interior of said body, removable means at the other end of the chamber forming a seal, a pair of spaced guide members fixed to the housing adjacent said removable means, the guide members having grooves to receive side edges of the plate carrier, and means for moving the plate carrier and orifice plate from operative position within the body through the chamber and into position between said spaced guide members, said means including a rack on the plate carrier and a series of spaced pinion gears for sequentially meshing with said rack, and a stop element for maintaining the plate carrier in the latter said position.

6. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of a body having a flow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice plate on the carrier having a central opening aligned with said body passage, a housing fixed to said body and having a chamber, laterally shiftable valve means forming a seal between one end of the chamber and the interior of said body,

removable means at the other end of the chamber forming a seal, a pair of spaced guide members fixed to the housing adjacent said removable means, the guide members having grooves to receive side edges of the plate carrier, and means for moving the plate carrier and orifice :plate from operative position Within the body through the chamber and into position between said spaced guide members, said means including a rack on the plate carrier and a series of spaced pinion gears for sequentially meshing with said rack, said means also including a plurality of rollers on the housing for guiding the plate carrier through the housing and for maintaining the rack in mesh with the pinion gears.

'7. In an orifice fitting device of the class described, the combination of: a body having a flow passage extending therethrough, a plate carrier removably mounted within the body, an orifice plate on the carrier having a central opening aligned with said body pasage, a housing fixed to said body and having a chamber, laterally shiftable valve means forming a seal between one'end of the chamber and the interior of said body, removable means at the other end of the chamber 1Q, forming a seal, a pair of spaced guide members fixed to the housing adjacent said removable means, the guide members having grooves to receive side edges of the plate carrier, and means for moving the plate carrier and orifice plate from operative position Within the body through the chamber and into position between said spaced guide members, said means including a rack on the plate carrier and a series of spaced pinion gears for sequentially meshing with said rack, said means also including a plurality of rollers on the housing for guiding the plate carrier through the housing and for maintaining the rack in mesh with the pinion gears, and a stop element for maintaining the plate carrier in the latter said position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Daniel Sept. 17, 1946 

